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Top 5 Best Free Duplicate File Finder for Windows

Over time, due to copy-pasting errors, multiple downloads, etc, a computer tends to accumulate duplicate files. This means that you have multiple copies of files taking up space on your disks. A Duplicate File Finder software, using a binary search algorithm, is able to find and list out these duplicate files, enabling you to delete the extras and free up more space. Not only do you free up space, you also avoid the confusion that may be caused due to the existence of multiple copies of the same file. There are many software available for free on the internet that fall under this category of Duplicate File Finder software.

1. Auslogics Duplicate File Finder

The Auslogics Duplicate File Finder software claims to increase 50% disk space, by removing worthless duplicate files, identical pictures, documents and any other files. The files are compared not only by names but also by their content. Media collections can also be easily organized by using this software to remove extra files. Hard drive defragmentation time also reduces when duplicate files are removed. The Auslogics Duplicate File Finder makes use of the MD5 search engine which enable one to search for files by content, not considering other match criteria.

2. Clonespy

Clonespy is another free software available on the internet that helps you create more free space on your hard drive. It helps detect files that have identical content, not considering their name, date, time and location. CloneSpy also detects files that are not exactly the same, but have the same file name. This makes it easy to remove different/older versions of the same file. Duplicate files can also be detected by having approximately the same size and a similar file name, or by being compared to a CD. Once the files have been detected, one can delete them, move them to another particular folder, export a list of files, etc.

3. Anti-Twin

The Anti-Twin software application compares files, which means that it searches for duplicate files and similar files on your hard disk. The files that are found can either be sent to the recycle bin or or be directly deleted. File content is compared by comparing the binary content of files. This software is a very good app to find and delete identical images and mp3 files in a download folder. It does a byte by byte comparison of user defined files. This image comparison is pixel based.

4. Fast Duplicate File Finder

Fast Duplicate File Finder is a freeware by MindGems. This freeware can be used to find duplicates within a single folder, the computer or an entire network. This makes it ideal for use in places like home or office networks. The application compares content as well as file names in order to search for duplicate content, and the professional version can find similar files not considering the file type. This application uses a fast binary comparison algorithm, and the internal preview supports video, text, image and music file formats. MindGems claims that this freeware can help one get up to 50% free space.

5. Easy Duplicate Finder

Easy Duplicate Finder is a great means to find and remove duplicate documents, spreadsheets, photos, MP3 files, etc. This helps one free up space and speed up the computer’s performance. This software makes a full byte-by-byte comparison of files, and also runs a cyclic redundancy check with file size. It also provides an ultra fast filename only scan option. Custom masks can be applied to file searches, there is an option to provide size conditions and get around compressed files and the recycle bin. Multiple sources and devices can be scanned, and the results can be saved to a file and be re-imported for future analysis and resolution.

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • petrus October 28, 2013, 6:11 am

    “CloneSpy comes with an installer. Simply run the downloaded EXE-file and you will be guided through the installation process. You can choose between two types of installation:
    Standard…
    Portable – All CloneSpy files will be unpacked to a specified directory from which you can run the program. These files can also be copied to other computers. To uninstall a portable installation simply delete all unpacked files.”

    I tested it on W7 64-bit and it’s running perfectly.

  • Thomas November 10, 2013, 7:13 am

    I tried Fast Duplicate File Finder few hours ago. I saved the pdf (I am a research student) files with 2 different file names in the same folder and run the scan. It said no duplicate file! I tried 3 times and all it said no duplicate file.

    • wynandboshoff January 17, 2014, 9:58 pm

      Hopefully not three times using the same file compare options. By the way, what options did you set to compare the files?

      If you don’t change any of the file compare options, then the outcome won’t change no matter how many times you run it. Two apps telling you the contents of the same file differs? That’s some special file for sure.

    • Jack D April 7, 2014, 1:45 pm

      I use that tool and I can say it is the best in this list which by the way is quite poor as Easy Duplicate Finder is not free and Fast Duplicate File Finder is much better than the one from Auslogics.
      What you have done most likely is to ignore the message that certain folders will be excluded from the scan in order to protect your operating system. Either disable that option or save the files on your drive – not on your desktop.

  • Thomas November 10, 2013, 7:22 am

    I have 2 same documents in PDF format but under 2 different file name, in the same folder. I also tried Auslogics Duplicate File Finder, it cannot find the duplicate files. I tried 3 times and it failed 3 times.

  • WynandB January 17, 2014, 10:41 pm

    5. Easy Duplicate Finder has “Very simple user interface” listed under pros and “Interface too simple” listed under cons. How can a pro be a con at the same time?

  • Jon January 26, 2014, 7:55 am

    Re: Thomas

    Did you save the file from Adobe, then copy it and rename the file that way?

    If you saved it from Adobe or other PDF creator then the files are likely to not be identical as Adobe or the creator may put in slightly different data (e.g a date stamp or a unique random identifier).

    Try and BinaryDiff utility on it to proove they are the same internally 🙂

    Jon

  • jake February 7, 2014, 10:16 am

    Auslogic is poor app that installs spam. Easy Duplicate Finder is not free.
    And the only cool tool in this list Fast Duplicate File Finder is rated 3 stars – its the only one really free for finding duplicate files and files with similar names and it does not install any s**ts on your system.

    • Phil April 19, 2014, 1:36 am

      Not.
      The free version don’t find similar names.
      And miss a lot of others functions. Look at here.

      In fact, there is NO good duplicate freeware solution…

  • Brian May 12, 2014, 7:35 am

    This is a good roundup of duplicate finders. Personally, I’m a big fan of Easy Duplicate Finder because of its iTunes and Windows Media integration. I have a lot of songs on my drives and they can get out of hand. Auslogics is also a great app for finding some duplicates quickly, but it doesn’t really have enough features.

  • karinaop March 19, 2015, 12:10 pm

    I use Duplicate Files Deleter which helps to find and remove useless duplicate files, stored on your PC. By using this powerful yet free utility, you can increase free space on your disk by up to 50%.

    Finds identical pictures, documents and any other files
    Compares files not only by names, but by their content
    Can significantly increase free space on your disk
    Helps you to organize your media collections
    Reduces time needed to defragment your hard drive.

  • feadrik January 2, 2016, 4:13 am

    Easy way to resolve your duplicate.

    so try it by “””” DuplicateFilesDeleter””””

  • anastasia April 12, 2016, 2:00 am

    try dulpicate files deleter. it is a great program

  • fina loren August 23, 2016, 9:31 pm

    Duplicate files deleter software helps you dash off some more space by eliminating copied or unnecessary files in bulk.
    This software gives forth truly what you would presume based on its name, and it does it effectively and quickly.
    You would not believe how much space it raids off.

  • Anonymous October 23, 2016, 8:37 am

    I think Duplicate File Finder Plus is very good.